Shingles (Herpes Zoster) Vaccine

CDC recommends that people 60 years old and older get shingles vaccine to prevent shingles and PHN.

Zostavax® is the only shingles vaccine currently approved for use in the United States for patient 50 years and older since 2006; however it is not recommended until age 60 or older. This vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by 51% and PHN by 67%. It is given in one dose as a shot, and can be given in a doctor’s office or pharmacy. Protection from shingles vaccine lasts about 5 years, so adults vaccinated before they are 60 years old might not be protected later in life when the risk for shingles and its complications are greatest. Adults 50 through 59 years who have questions about shingles vaccine should discuss the risks and benefits with a healthcare provider

People 60 years of age or older should get shingles vaccine. The CDC recommends that patients should get the vaccine whether or not they recall having had chickenpox, which is caused by the same virus as shingles (http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/overview.html). There is no maximum age for getting shingles vaccine. While the vaccine was most effective in people 60 through 69 years old, it also provides some protection for people 70 years old and older.

Even if you have had shingles, you can still receive shingles vaccine to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time you must wait after having shingles, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has disappeared before getting vaccinated. The decision on when to get vaccinated should be made with your healthcare provider.

Who Should Not Get Shingles Vaccine?

A person who has ever had a life-threatening or severe allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or any other component of shingles vaccine.

A person who has a weakened immune system because of:

HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system,

treatment with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids,

cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy, or

Cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, such as leukemia or lymphoma.

Women who are or might be pregnant. Women should wait to become pregnant 4 weeks after getting a shingles vaccine.

Someone with a minor acute illness, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. But anyone with a moderate or severe acute illness should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine. This includes anyone with a temperature of 101.3°F or higher.

What Are the Possible Side Effects of Shingles Vaccine?

A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. However, the risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

No serious problems have been identified with shingles vaccine.

Mild side effects can include:

Redness, soreness, swelling, or itching at the site of the injection (about 1 person in 3).

Headache (about 1 person in 70).

It is safe to be around infants and young children, pregnant women, or people with weakened immune systems after you get the shingles vaccine. There is no documentation of a person getting chickenpox from someone who has received the shingles vaccine (which contains varicella zoster virus).

Some people who get the shingles vaccine will develop a chickenpox-like rash near the place where they were vaccinated. As a precaution, this rash should be covered until it disappears.